Door closer and check



March 27, 1934. A. HRUSKA DOOR CLOSER AND CHECK Filed May 9. 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 27, 1934. A. HRUSKA 1,952,070

DOOR CLOSER AND'CHECK 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 9. 1932 March 27, 1934. us 1,952,070

DOOR CLOSER AND CHECK Filed May 9, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 27, 1934 1 .2 STATES PATENT OFFICE DOOR CLOSER AND CHECK Alois Hruska, Cicero, Ill., assignor of four-tenths to Frank Seibert, Riverside, Ill.

Application May. 9, 1932, Serial No. 610,069

lei Claims. (Cl. 16-61) The invention relates to fluid door checks and To this end my invention'consists in the novel closers and more particularly it relates to a check construction, arrangement and combination of and closing device wherein a spring closes the parts herein shown and described, and more pardoor and the rate of closure is controlled by the ticularly pointed out in the claims.

resistance of fluid evacuated from a closed cylin- In the drawings, wherein like reference charder or the like by a piston actuated by the spring. acters indicate like or corresponding parts- An object of the invention is the provision of a Fig. l is an end elevational View of a portion of door check and closer device of the kind dethe stile of a door on which a device embodying scribed which operates to close the door from all the principles of the invention is mounted;

open positions up to a maximum of 180 degrees Fig. 2 is a view along the line 2-2 of Fig. 3; 65*

except for a. limited range of open positions be- Fig. 3 is a view along the line -3 of tween 90 and 180 degrees, the device being in- Fig. 4 is a view along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 operative to close the door when standing at any drawn to a larger scale and showing the door position within said range. opened at an angle of substantially ninety de- 16 Another object of the i ve tion is the progrees; and the dotted lines disclose the operative 7. vision of improved means whereby the door check position several members assume when the door is automatically actuated after allowing a door is to be closed by manually opening it beyond the to close slowly up to a position near its closed 65 position;

position at which time said means comes intoop- Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the eration to permit the door check to more rapidly door closed; 7, close the door and thereby make certain of a com- Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 4 with the door plete closing of the door which otherwise might open at an angle of approximately 165 degrees; not be the case if the rate of closing were not acand the dotted lines show the door in an open celerated as the door approaches its closed posiposition at an acute angle;

tion. Fig. l is a view along the line '7-7 of Fig. 2 so A further object of the invention is the providrawn to a larger scale; sion of improvements in door check and closing Fig. 8 is a view along the line 88 of Fig. '7; devices producing a uniform, sure and easily ad- Fig. 9-is a View of a portion of the device shown justable braking action on the door. in Fig. 7 drawn to-a larger scale;

A still further object is the provision of im- Fig. .10 is a view along the line '10-10 of Fig. 9

proved means adjustable to stop the door in any drawn to a larger scale; and desired partially closed position. Fig. 11 is a View along the line 1111 of Fig. 3

Still another object is the provision of improved drawn to a larger scale. emergency valve mechanism adapted to permit Referring now more particularly to the draw- 35 the door to be closed rapidly by main force withings, the device is shown as installed upon a door out injury to the checking apparatus. 15 swingably mounted on a door frame 16 by A still further object is the provision of a door means of hinges 18. The door 15 and the frame check and closing device of the kind described 16 are shown as constructed of metal but it is adapted to be mounted on either metal or wooden understood that the device is adapted for mount- 40 doors and to be concealed within the hinge stile ing on doors or frames constructed of wood or of a door. of any other suitable material.

A further object of the invention is the pro- The actuating and control mechanism is vision of a device .of the kind described so 'armounted in a housing contained within the hinge ranged that access can be had to the mechanism stile of the door 15 and is preferably positioned for inspection, cleaning and adjustment without about midway between the top and bottom of the removing the same from the door on which it is door where it is easily accessible. The actuating mounted. and control mechanism is concealed from View A still further object of the invention is the proby positioning it in a shallow recess between the vision of a device of the kind described which is metal side walls 20 of the hinge stile of the door.

to simple, economical, durable and satisfactory for The recess 21 is bounded by a member 22 preferits intended purpose. ably welded to the side walls 20 of the door. The

Many other objects and advantages of the edge 19 of the hinge stile is cut away in front construction herein shown and described will be of the recess 21 and terminates a slight distance obvious to those skilled in the art from the disabove and below the recess to permit the device 55 closure herein. to be inserted therein. 11o

The housing for the device comprises a front channel plate 31 and a back plate 30, the latter extending along the top of the recess 21 and being fastened to the plate 31 by welding or by screws if desired. The plate 31 is aligned with the edge of the door and is fastened to the member 2" by a plurality of countersunk screws 24. The plate 31 provides a support for the actuating and control mechanism and also for a U shaped control arm 35 which connects'the door 15 with the frame 16.

The frame 16 is cut away adjacent the upper end of the plate 31 to provide a recess in which a relatively thicl; rigid plate 36 is mounted and fastened to the frame by screws or any suitable fastening means. The arm 35 projects through a slot so in the plate 36 and a bearing block 88 is mounted on the inner face of the plate 36 in any suitable manner. The block 38 carries a pivot 39 on which the end of the arm 35 is journaled and about which the arm 35 rotates as a center as the door is opened or closed.

The swin ing end of the arm 35 projects through a slot 45 in the channel plate 31 and into a recess 4.6 formed in a sliding block 42. The arm 35 is connected with the block 42 by a pivot 44 and the block 42 is slidably mounted on a pair of horizontal guide mem ers 43. The guide members 43 are arranged in parallel spaced apart relation and as a result swinging movement of thearm 35 resulting from opening and closing the door 15 is, accompanied by a corresponding reciprocal movement of the member 42 along the guide members 43.

A standard 49, mounted on the channel plate 31 as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, provides a support for a pair of bell crank levers 48.. The levers 48 are rotatably mounted on a pivot 50, carried by the standard 49, and operativelyconnect the horizontally slidable member 42 with a vertically movable plunger rod in such a manner that in general any movement of the arm 35 is accompanied by a corresponding movement of the plunger rod. A pivot 51, extending through a slot 4'? in the member- 42, connects the upper ends of the lovers 48. Thelower ends of the levers 68 are similarly connected with one end of a'linlr 53 by a pin 52. The other end of the link 53 is 'cperatively connected with the plunger rod 55 by means of a pivot pin 54, the construction being such that the rod moves downwardly the door is closed and upwardly as the door is opened.

A plate 56, rigidly connected by any suitable means to the rear plate 30 and to the front channel plate 31, providesa support for a ferrule shaped guide bearing 57 through which the plunger rod 55 projects. A collar 58, mounted on the rod 55 near its lower end, provides an abutment for the adjacent end of a compressive spiral spring 59, the resilience of which controls theclosing of the door by actuating the rod as iereinafter described. The upper end of the spring 59 abuts against the head of the ferrule shaped member 57 in such a manner that it constantly tends to move the rod 55 downwardly. The ferrule shaped bearing member 57 is threaded through the plate 56 and providesmeans for adjusting the spring 559 to the requirements of the particular installation.

A fluid tight casing 6-3, mounted in the lower end of the housing, is fastened to the rear plate 36 and to the channel plate 31 by a plurality of screws 33 and provides a closed container for oil or other fluid that may be used as a resisti medium. The casing 60 is preferably formed with integral side walls, diaphragms bottom portion, and has separate members 63 and '71 respectively forming covers for a cylinder 61 and a supply chamber 76. The covers 63 and 71 may be fastened to the casing 66 by any suitable means such as screws or the like. The plunger rod 55 extends through a hollow externally threaded stem 64, formed integral with the cover 63, projects into the cylinder 61, to provid a mounting for a piston 62 reciprocally movable within the cylinder. A cap member 65 is threaded onto the stem 64 in a manner to compress packing 66 contained therein and prevent leakage of oil about the outer periphery of the rod 55.

The casing 60 is filled or replenished with oil by removing a stopper 72 which is threaded into a filling aperture in the cover 71. Access to the casing 65 for adjustment, or replenishing the oil supply is accomplished by removing a front plate 32 which is detachably fastened to the plate 31 by means of screws 33.

The piston 62 movable with the plunger rod 55 provides a check tending to retard the closing of the door by reason of the resistance of the oil The end of the aperture 73 opening onto the cylinder 61 is enlarged and contains a pin '75 serving to keep the ball 7% in the aperture when the valve is open.

The lower end of the cylinder 61 is connected with the chamber '70 by a passageway comprising a vertical duct '76 and a horizontal bore 77 adapted to permit evacuation of the cylinder by downward movement of the piston 62.

The upper and lower ends of the cylinder 61 are directly connected through a plurality of port valves in the piston 62, each comprising a frusto conical downwardly expanding aperture 67 at the lower end of which a member 69 provides a support for a ball 63 positioned in each of the apertures. eter than the upper constricted ends of the apertures 6'7 and remain in the bottom of the ape tures when the piston 62 is stationary or is being moved upwardly. Upon downward movement of the piston 62, incidental to closing the door, the

oil pressure causes the balls 69 to move upwardly and close the apertures 67. The size and number of the apertures 67' are such that the oil flows freely through the piston 62 as it moves upwardly, the only resistance to the opening of the door being that oiiered by the spring 59.

The position of the piston 62 in the cylinder 61 corresponds to the approximately 96 degree open position of the door shown in Figs. 3 and 4-.

The balls 69 are of sli htly larger '1 an inn Further opening of the door from the full line 61 through the bore 77 and the duct 76 into the supply chamber 70. The aperture 73 connecting the upper end of the cylinder 61 with the chamber remains open during the downward movement of the piston and as a result oil flows into the upper end of the cylinder as rapidly as it flows out of the lower end.

Control or throttle relief valve mechanism is mounted in the bottom of the casing 60 to regulate the amount of flow from the bore 77 into the duct 76. The control and relief valve mechanism includes a sleeve 78 threaded into the bore 77 in a manner to adjustably throttle the flow of oil therethrough from the cylinder 61 as the piston 62 is moved downwardly as the door is closed. Under normal operating conditions, the sleeve 78 is so positioned that the capacity of flow from the bore 77 to the duct 76. is less than the capacity of the aperture 73 connecting the chamber with the upper end of the cylinder 61 and as a result the sleeve controls the circulation of oil in the casing 60.

The end of the bore 77 is enlarged to provide a cylindrical recess '79 containing member 81 on the outer end of the sleeve 78'. The head member 81 is hollow and closely fits the recess 79. A groove 99 on the end of the head member 81 enables the sleeve 78 to be threaded inwardly or outwardly by means of a screw driver or the like and thereby adjust the throttling effect of the sleeve on the flow of oil from the bore 77 to the duct 76. A plunger rod 84, extending through an axial bore on the sleeve 78 and the head 81, normally occupies the full line position of Figs.

. 7 and 9 when the door is open. A spiral spring 86, mounted in the recess 79, has one end bearing against a head 85 on the outer end of the rod 84 and the other end abutting an annular plate 82 in a manner to yieldingly hold the rod 84 in its full line position. Leakage of oil about the rod 84 is prevented by packing 83 positioned between the plate 82v and the end of the sleeve 78, the spring 86 serving to keep the packing compressed.

The inner end 87 of the sleeve 78 is frustoconical and contains an enlarged axial bore 88. A plurality of radial ducts 89 provide outlets from the bore 88 to an annular channel forming an enlargement of the bore 77. A frusto-conical collar 90, mounted on the end ofthe plunger rod 84,

closes the bore 88 when the rod is in its full line position. The spring 86 normally holds the rod 84 in a position where the collar 90 closely fits the frusto-conical end 87 of the sleeve 78. In

this position of therod 8a, the flow of oil from the bore '77 to the duct 76 is limited to the capacity of the small annular space between the frusto-conical end 87 and the wall of the bore. The size of this annular space is regulated by threading the sleeve 78 inwardly or outwardly as already described.

It is desirable to so position the sleeve 78 that the evacuation of the cylinder 61 under the force exerted by the spring 59 on the rod 55 permits the door to be closed slowly. On account of. the

4 well known tendency of doors to stop when subapproaching its closed position and moves the plunger rod 84 against the resistance of the spring 86 from the full line position to the .dotted line position of Fig. 9. In the dotted line position of the rod 84 and collar 90, oil flows through the bore 88, the radial ducts 89 and the annular channel 80, thereby diminishing the resistance of the oil to the downward movement of the piston 62 under the action of the spring 59. The resulting increased flow of oil from the bore 77 into the duct 76 permits an acceleration of the speed with which the door moves as it approaches its closed position and thereby makes certain that the door will be completely closed by the action of the spring 59.

An emergency'relief valve is provided to avoid undue strain or breaking of the parts in case it is attempted to close the door by main force more rapidly than is permitted by the flow of oil from the bore 77 to the duct 76 as regulated by the relief and control valve mechanism. The emergency relief valve is mounted in a duct 91 connecting the bore 77 with the oil supply chamber '70 and comprises a hollow plug 93 threaded into the upper end or" the duct 91 and a ball 94 mounted in the lower end of the duct and supportedby an annular rim. 92. The ball 94 is held in closed position as shown in Fig. 7 by a compressive spring 95 sufficiently strong to maintain the valve closed under the oil pressure resulting from the normal action of the spring 59. In the event of an attempt to close the door by main force more rapidly than is permitted by the normal fiow of oil as described, the oil in the lower portion of the cylinder 61 will be subjected to high pressure by the downward thrust of the piston 62. Such pressure will lift the ball 94 from its seat and permit oil to now through the duct 91 and thereby relieving the strain and permitting more rapid closing of the door. The spring 95 provides sufficient resistance to maintain the duct 91 closed under all normal operating conditions and yields only when unusual force is applied to the door to close the same.

It is desirable for convenience that the door stand open at a few degrees less than the maximum of 180 notwithstanding the action of the spring 59 tending to close the door. The construction is such that the door will remain open and the spring is automatically quiescent when the door is so positioned that a vertical plane parallel to the door and extending through the middle of the member-42 is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the line a*:c through the pivots 39 and 44 at the ends 35a and 35b respectively of the control arm 35. The inclination of the end 35a permits the pivot 39 to be positioned inside the door jamb and to be so located that the arm 35 will contact with the plate 36, before the door is permitted to reach its 180 degree open position. In the drawings, the plate 36 is shown as positioned to stop the arm 35 at a point corresponding approximately to the 165 degree open position of the door. 165 degree open position is typical only and for any particular installation the swing of the arm 35 and the corresponding position of the door when the arm contacts with the plate 36 may be any other angle greater than the 90 degree open position of the door, such position being controlled by varying the width or curvature of the arm 35.

In the structure shown, the axial line m-x passes through the center of the hinge 18 when The 1 the door is open at approximately 135 degrees. For all positions of the door between 135 degrees and 165 degrees, the door is approximately perpendicular to the line $-1E wit the result that there is no side thrust exerted by the member 42 tending to close the door but there is, however, a slight inclination of the door to the line rear tending to cause the spring59 to further open the door. As a result, if the door is left open at a position intermediate 135 and 165 degrees, the spring 59 gradually moves the door to the 165 degree position where further movement is stopped by contact of the arm 35 with plate 36.

iIhe end 351) of the arm 35 is of sufiicient length that the member i2 is "spaced away from the edge of the door in the 165 degree open position thereof best shown in Fig. 6. The length of the arm 35 and the length of the end 351) are so arranged that .for any open position of the door less than 135 degrees, the direction of pull of the end 3527 on the pivot 44. is such that the door will be closed, the closing being caused by the pull exerted on the arm by the spring 59 acting through the member .42. The described construction permits the door to be closed from any open position in the zone when the spring is automatically quiescent by manually moving the door in the direction of closing past the 135 degree open position wherein the spring 59 becomes effective as described.

For open position of the door beyond 165 degrees, the door is so inclined to the axis 33-03 that the device operates to tend to close the door and for this reason the door may also be closed by manually opening it beyond the 165 degree po sition and then releasing it. In pushing the door beyond the 165 degree open position, the arm 35 remains stationary by reason of its contact with the plate 36 and the member 42 is pulled thereby towards the edge of the doorand the position shown in dotted lines in Figure l. In moving the door approximately to its 180 degree open position, the spring 59 is additionally compressed by the movement of the member 42 and the resulting pent up energy in the spring produces sufficient pull on the arm 35 to start the door to moving rapidly towards its closed position. As a result, the door gains sufficientmomentum to ca ry it through the zone inwhich the spring 59 is normally quiescent and past the 135 degree open position where the spring again becomes active and operates to close the door.

The influence of the spring 59 tending slightly to open the door in the relatively quiescent zone between the 135 and 165 degree open positions prevents the door from being closed by gust of wind or by accidental contact therewith and insures that the door will stand open and that it will be closed by th spring 59 upon manually moving the door out of the quiescent zone in either direction.

It is sometimes desirable to maintain the door open at angles of less than 135 degrees and for this purpose a stop device is mounted on the door frame adjacent the arm 35. The stop device is shown in Figs. 4 and 11 as comprising a pair of plates 96 positioned on the door frame on opposite sides of the plate 36 and each having a projecting portion 9'? in the slot 40. The plates 95 are connected by a screw 98 by means of which the plates may be clamped against movement in any desired position in the path of the arm 35 thereby providing stops limiting the movement of the arm and causing the door to stand in cor" responding open position.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided an improved door check and closer device, including improved control and relief valve mechanism 0perable to permit acceleration of the rate at which the door closes in approaching its closed position and thereby insuring complete closing of the door, an improved emergency relief valve mechanism operable to permit acceleration of the rate at which the door is closed when main force is applied thereto and novel means connecting the actuating spring with the door frame whereby the spring operates to close the door for all open positions except in a zone determined by 135 to 165 egrees approximately.

Having thus described my invention, it is ob vious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not. wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A door check and closer countersunk within thehinge stile of a door including a cylinder forming a checking chamber, a piston reciprocally movable within the cylinder, a reservoir chamber for holding the checking fluid, a valve for throttling escape of fluid from the cylinder, a member slidable in a path transverse to the edge of the door, means operatively connecting said slidable member with said piston, a U shaped arm having one end pivotally connected inside the door jamb and the other end pivotally connected to said slidable member whereby swinging movement of the door causes a movement of the slidable memher and piston relative to the door, a spring operable to move the piston to evacuate the cylinder through said valve, the length of the stems and the arrangement of the pivot connections of said arm being such that the arm contacts withand is stopped by the door jamb upon opening the door a substantial distance past its 90 degree open position, the stem of the arm attached to said slidable member being substantially parallel to the plane of the door when the arm is stopped by contact with the door jarnb, said spring in moving the piston exerting a pull upon the arm being operable to close the door for all open positions within a defined range and being inoperable within in a small zone wherein the door is substantially perpendicular to the oblong portion of the arm.

2. A door check and closer countersunk within the hinge stile of a door including a cylinder forming a checking chamber, a piston reciprocally movable within the cylinder, a reservoir chamber for holding the checking fluid, a valve for throttling escape of fluid from the cylinder, a plunger rod on which said piston is mounted, a member slidable in the plane of the door transverse to the path of said piston and plunger rod. a bell crank lever connecting said slidable member with said plunger rod, a U shaped arm having one end pivotally connected inside the door janib and the other end pivotally connected to said slidable member whereby swinging movement of the door causes a movement of the slidable member relative to the door, a spring operable to ove the 4 piston to evacuate the cylinder through said valve, said resulting movement of the piston operating to move the door to closed position when said arm is inclined at an obtuse angle to the plane of door, said arm being arranged to contact with the door jamb and come to a stop in a position corresponding to a substantially open position ofthe door, further opening of the door being accomplished by said arm pulling said slidable member towards the edge of the door against the resistance of said spring, the ends of said arm being substantially parallel to and the main body of the arm being substantially perpendicular :to the plane of the door for all positions of the door in the vicinity of said described stopped position.

3. A door check and closer countersunk within the hinge stile of a door including a cylinder forming a checking chamber, a piston reciprocally movable within the cylinder, a reservoir chamber for holding the checking fluid, a valve for throttling escape of fluid from the cylinder, a plunger rod on which said piston mounted and a spring carried by the rod for operating the piston, a member slidable in the plane of the door transverse to the path of said piston and plunger rod, a bell crank lever connecting said slidable member with said plunger rod, an elongated U shaped arm having one end pivotally connected inside the door jamb and the other end pivotally connected to said slidable member whereby swinging movement of the door causes a movement of the slidable member relative to the door, the pivot connections of said arms being so arranged that the action of the spring in moving the piston exerts a pull upon the arm tending to close the door except when the axial line of the arm through the pivot points is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the door, .said arm being substantially perpendicular to the door except in a narrow zone for all open positions stopping short of the 180 degree open position of the door, said arm being stopped by the door jamb at a point where the arm is substantially perpendicular to the door with the swingable end of said arm projecting into the door a substantial distance when the arm is stopped, further closing movement of the door causing the arm to pull said slidable member towards the edge of the door and adding resilience to said spring by the resulting movement of the piston. V

4. A door check and closer countersunk within the hinge stile of a door including a cylinder forming a checking chamber, a piston reciprocally movable within the cylinder, a reservoir chamber for holding the checking fluid, a valve forthrottling escape of fluid from the cylinder, a plunger rod on which said piston is mounted and a spring carried by the rod for operating the piston, a member slidable in the plane of the door transverseto the path of said piston and plunger rod, a bell crank lever connecting said slidable member with said plunger rod, an elongated U shaped arm having one end pivotally connected inside the door jamb and the other end pivotally connected to said slidable member whereby swinging movement of the door causes a movement of the slidable member relative to the door, the pivot connections of said arms being so arranged that the action of the spring in moving the piston exerts a pull upon the arm tending to operably close the door within a predetermined range and being inoperable when the axial line of the arm through the pivot points is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the door, said arm being inclined substantially to the door for all open positions except from approximately 135 to 165 degrees, the length of the stem portion of said arm fastened to the door ,jamb being 'suchthat the jamb stops thearm at the 165 degree open position of the door, the swingable end of said arm projecting into the door a substantial distance when the arm is stopped, further closing movement of the door causing the arm to pull said slidable member towards the edge of the door and adding resili ence to said spring by the resulting movement of the piston. I

5. A device of the kind described comprising actuation and control mechanism concealed within the hinge stile of a door, said mechanism comprising a checking chamber'containing liquid, a cylinder, a by-pass connecting the chamber with opposite ends of said cylinder, means adjustable to control the flow of liquid through said by pass, a pistonreciprocally movable in the cylinder, a port through said piston, valve means operable to close the port during movement of the piston in one direction, a plunger rod on which the piston is mounted, spring means tending to move the rod and piston in the direction operating to close the port, a member reciprocally movable transversely to said rod, means operatively connecting said rod and member in a manner that movement of one causes movement of the other, and an arm having one end pivotally connected with said member and the other end pivotally connected with the door frame at a point covered by the hinge stile of a door when the door is closed, the swinging movement of said arm as the door is opened tending to cause the member to move towards the edge of the door and the piston to move against the resistance of the spring, the resilience or" the spring moving said rod, piston, connecting means and member to exert a pull on said arm tending to close the door.

6. A device of the kind described comprising members disposed in a manner to be concealed within a narrow recess in the hinge stile of a door, said members including a chamber and a cylinder for containing the checking fluid, a reciprocatory piston in the cylinder for circulating the fluid content, passages connecting the chamher with the cylinder on each side of the piston travel, a plunger rod having one end providing a mounting for the piston and having its other end projecting from the cylinder, a swingable arm having its pivotal end fastened to the door jamb and its free end projecting into said recess, mechanism operatively connecting the free end of the arm with the plunger rod and reciprocally movable with the arm and piston as the door is opened and closed, a driving wring tending to move the rod and piston in a direction to actuate said arm and mechanism to close the door, said cylinder having a port therethrough and a normallyopen fluid controlled valve operable to close the port when the piston is moved in a direction corresponding to the closing of the door, a shiftable valve in the passageway for throttling escape of fluid from said cylinder under movement of the piston as actuated by said spring, an adjustable mounting for supporting said shiftable valve in any desired position, means adapted for shifting said throttling valve to open position as the door approaches its closed position under the action of said spring, an auxiliary oypass around the throttling valve, a spring controlled valve closing said auxiliary by-pass for all liquid pressures incidental to the evacuation of the cylinder by movement of the piston by said driving spring, said spring controlled valve opening to permit flow of liquid through the auxiliary by-pass when the door is forcibly closed beyond the rate permitted by the relief valve.

'7. A door check and closer countersunk within the hinge stile of a door including a cylinder forming a checking chamber, a piston reciprocally movable within the cylinder, a reservoir chamber for holding the checking fluid, a valve for throttling the escape of fluid from the cylinder, 'a member slidable in a path transverse to the edge of the door, means operatively connecting said slidable member with said piston, an arm having one end pivotally connected with said slidable member whereby swinging movement of the door causes a corresponding movement of the slidable member and piston relative to the door, and a spring operatively related to said means connecting said slidable member with said piston for imparting movement to said slidable member and said piston to operatively close the door from all open positions within a predetermined range and being inoperable to close the door within a predetermined range when the door is moved beyond the first mentioned predetermined range. V

8. A door check and closer carried by the door including a casing forming a checking chamber, a piston arranged within thechamber, a reservoir for holding the checking fluid, a valve for throttling the passage of fluid from the chamber to the reservoir, a slidable member, means pivotally connecting said member with said piston, a door frame and an arm providing a pivotal connection between said door frame and said member whereby movement of the door causes a corresponding movement of said member and said piston, and means operatively related to said means connecting said member with said piston for imparting movement to said member and said piston to operatively close the door from all open positions within a predetermined range and being inoperable to close the door when move beyond the aforesaid range.

9. A door check and closer adapted to be carried by the door including a casing forming a checking chamber, a piston arranged within the chamber, a reservoir for holding the checking fluid, a valve for throttling the passing of fluid from the chamber to the reservoir, a slidable member, means operatively connecting said slidable member with said piston, means pivotally connected to said slidable member and adapted to be secured to a door frame whereby the movement of the door causes a corresponding move- H ment of the slidable member and piston, and

der forming a checking chamber, a piston reciprocally movable within the cylinder, a reservoir chamber for holding the checking fluid, a valve for throttling the escape of fluid from the cylinder, a plunger rod on which said piston is mounted, a member slidable in a path transverse to the I edge of the door, means operatively connecting 'said slidable member with said plunger rod, an

arm having one end pivotally mounted on the door jamb and the other end pivotally connected with said slidable member whereby swinging movement of the door causes a corresponding movement of the slidable member and piston relative to the door, a plate arranged in the device, a spring having one end abutting the said plate and the other end engaging the piston rod to move the piston and slidable member in a manner to exert a pull on said arm tending to close the door, said arm being of a character to render the spring operable to close the door from any open position within a predetermined range of movement and render the spring inoperable to close the door from any'open position within a range lying between the 90 and the 180 open position of the door.

11. A door check and closer device countersunk within the hinge stile of a door including a cylinder forming a checking chamber, a piston reciprocally movable within the cylinder, a reservoir chamber for holding the checking fluid, a valve for throttling the escape of fluid from said cylinder, a plunger rod on which said piston is mounted, a member slidable in the plane of the door transverse to the path of said piston and plunger rod, a bell-crank lever connecting said slidable member with said plunger rod, an elongated U-shaped arm having one end pivotally connected inside the door jamb and the other end pivotally connected to said slidable member whereby swinging movement of the door causes a movement of the slidable member relative to the door, a plate arranged in the device, a compression spring having one end abutting said plate and the other end engaging the piston rod so as to move the piston and slidable member in a mannor to exert a pull on the said arm tending to close the door, the pivot connections on said arm being arranged to render the spring operable to close the door from any open position within a predetermined range of movement and render the spring inoperable to close the door from any open position when the axial line of the arm through its pivot points is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the door.

12. A device of the kind described comprising members disposed in a manner to be concealed within a narrow recess in the hinge stile of a door, said members including a chamber and a cylinder for containing the checking fluid, a reciprocatory piston in the cylinder for circulating the fluid content, passages connecting the chamber with the cylinder on each side of the piston travel, a plunger rod having one end providing a mounting for the piston and having its other end projecting from the cylinder, a swingable arm having its pivotal end fastened to the door jamb and its free end projecting into said recess, mechanism operatively connecting the free end of the arm with the plunger rod and reciprocally movable with the piston and arm as the door is opened and closed, a driving spring tending to move the rod and piston in a direction to actuate said arm and mechanism to close the door, a shiftable valve in the passageway for throttling the escape of fluid from said cylinder under movement of the piston as actuated by said spring, an adjustable mounting for supporting said shiftable valve in any desired position, said valve being located so as to engage the door jamb as the door nears a closed position and thus permit an increased flow of fluid from said cylinder and thus accelerate the rate of closure of the door as it nears its closed position.

13. A device of the kind described comprising members disposed in a manner to be concealed within a narrow recess in the hinge stile of a door, said members including a chamber and a cylinder for containing the checking fluid content, passages connecting the chamber with the cylinder on each side of the piston travel, a plunger rod having one end providing a mounting for the piston and having its other end projecting from the cylinder, a swingable arm having its pivotal end fastened to the door jamb and its free end projecting into said recess, mechanism operatively connecting the free end of the arm with the plunger rod and reciprocally movable with the piston and arm as the door is opened and closed, a driving spring tending to move the rod and piston in a direction to actuate said arm and mechanism to close the door, a shiftable valve in the passageway for throttling escape of fluid from said cylinder under movement of the piston as actuated by said spring, an adjustable mounting for supporting said shiftable valve in any desired position, the stem of said shiftable valve being located so as to engage the door jamb as the door nears the closed position and open said valve in a manner to permit an increased flow of fluid from said cylinder and thus accelerate the rate of closure of the door as it nears its closed position, an auxiliary by-pass around the throttling valve, a spring controlled valve closing said auxiliary bypass for all liquid pressures incidental tothe evacuation of the cylinder by movement of the piston by said driving spring, said spring controlled valve opening to permit flow of liquid through the auxiliary by-pass when the door is forcibly closed beyond the rate permitted by the relief valve.

14. A device of the kind described comprising members disposed in a manner to be concealed within a narrow recess in the hinge stile of a door, said members including a chamber and a cylinder for containing the checking fluid, a reciprocatory piston in the cylinder for circulating the fluid content, passages connecting the chamber with the cylinder on each side of the piston travel, a plunger rod having one end providing a mounting for the piston and having its other end projecting from the cylinder, a swingable arm having its pivotal end fastened to the door jarnb and its free end projecting into said recess, mechanism operatively connecting the free end of the arm with the plunger rod and reciprocally movable with the arm and piston as the door is opened and closed, a driving spring tending to move the rod and piston in a direction to actuate said arm and mechanism to close the door, said cylinder having a port therethrough and a normally open fluid controlled valve operable to close the port when the piston is moved in a direction corresponding to the closing of the door, a shiftable valve in the passageway for throttling escape of fluid from said cylinder under movement of the piston as actuated by said spring, an adjustable mounting for supporting said shiftable valve in any desired position, the stem of said shiftable valve being located so as to engage the door jamb as the door nears a closed position and permit a greater amount of fluid to pass from said cylinder and thus accelerate the rate of closure of the door as it nears a closed position under the action of said spring.

ALOIS HRUSKA. 

